Tools and Materials

Tools

Materials

Note

Product costs, availability and item numbers may vary online or by market.

How To Measure a Storm Door

A diagram showing how to measure the width and height of a door opening to size a storm door.

Measure the height and width of your door frame carefully before you visit the store to purchase a new storm door. Bring the information with you so you can find the correct size. See the illustration at right for more details on how to measure for a storm door.

A – Width at the top of the frame

B – Width at the bottom of the frame

C – Width at the bottom of the frame

D - Height

The chart below gives you an idea of the door size you need based on your measurements, but check the product information for the door you’re considering. Use your narrowest width as your guide for sizing the new storm door.

Most storm door units can be adjusted slightly to fit into a door frame. The parameters for this adjustment vary by manufacturer. If your opening is too big for a standard door, you can install an extender — sometimes known as a Z-bar extender — a device that fills in the extra space between the door and frame. In some cases, you may be able to use shims to fit the opening to a door. If you don't want to use a Z-bar or shims, you can order custom doors, which can be made to fit almost any door opening.

Tip

Don’t have time to do this project yourself and prefer professional installation? We can install your storm door.

Shop Storm Doors Shop Window & Doors

Install the Storm Door

The general steps below will show you how to replace or install one type of storm door. The exact process for replacing and installing a storm door may vary by model, so follow the instructions for your particular door.

Good to Know

Your door should include the necessary screws for attaching the hinge rail, installing the frame, installing the drip cap, etc. When installing the screws, be careful to avoid overtightening them. Driving them too tightly can damage the door components.

Tip

Your existing storm door may just need a simple tune-up to be good as new. Watch our DIY Basics video: How Do I Adjust My Storm Door?

Removing an Existing Storm Door

Installing the New Storm Door

This model of door uses a placeholder screw that helps you install the hinge rail easily. Hold the hinge rail securely to the hinge side of the door frame and position the end of the rail at the top of the door frame. Make sure it’s plumb and in the correct position. Mark the location of the top hole on the hinge rail. Remove the rail and drive in a placeholder screw at the mark with about 1/8 of an inch of the screw exposed.

Install the door sweep into the bottom expander piece according to the manufacturer’s instructions. If you have trouble sliding the sweep into place, add a bit of liquid soap to the channel. The sweep may stretch a bit as you work with it. Once it’s contracted back to the correct size, secure it in place. For this door, you’ll crimp both ends of the channel. Trim the excess material with a utility knife.

Place the storm door interior side up on sawhorses or on a flat surface that won’t damage the door. Slide the expander into place on the lower portion of the door but don’t secure it yet. Double check that you’re working on the side you designated for the hinges and secure the hinge rail to the door with the included screws. The door may have a locator hole to help you align the rail properly. Install a screw in the locator hole then install the remaining screws.

Tip

Your door may have a mortise on each side for installing handles based on how the door will swing. If it does, install the included mortise cover to plug the mortise on the hinge side.

A close-up of a drill and driver bit installing a screw to secure a hinge rail in a door frame.

Push the hinge rail firmly against the door frame, ensure it’s plumb and finish driving in the placeholder screw to secure the rail tightly to the frame. Install another screw at the second hinge up from the bottom. Adjust the hinge rail extender to reach the door sill. Drive in the mounting screws on the inner side of the hinge rail. Hold the rail firmly against the door frame and drive in the outer mounting screws.

You’ll need weatherstripping for the rail extender. Cut the material to length and affix it to the extender.

Tip

You’ll need weatherstripping for the rail extender. Cut the material to length and affix it to the extender.

Add an extender to the bottom of the rail that will be on the latch side of the door. Butting the top of the rail tightly against the drip cap, making sure the outside edges of the rail and drip cap are flush with each other. Adjust the extender to reach the door sill. Test the motion of the door. It should swing freely without contacting the latch rail. Hold the rail tightly against the frame and secure with screws. Add weatherstripping sized to fit the rail extender.

As with the latch, installation will vary by the type of closer you have. This door includes a closer for the top and one for the bottom. Typical closer installation steps include:

• Attaching a bracket to the hinge-side door frame

• Adding the hold washer (if included) onto the closer rod

• Connecting the closer to the frame bracket

• Connecting the closer to the door bracket

• Leveling the closer and installing the door bracket

• Adjusting the closer to close the door at the desired speed.

If your door included a safety chain to keep the door opening beyond 90 degrees, install it now.

The measurement and how to images above are courtesy of LARSON.

See How To Install or Replace a Storm Door

Ready to see for yourself how to install or replace a storm door? Watch these videos from LARSON. Specific steps vary by door model, but these examples show you the type of work you’ll commonly need to do when measuring your doorway and installing a storm door.